New 'nonna-for-hire' service offers respite for struggling families

For working families who don’t have the support of willing and able grandparents, juggling children, jobs and life in general can be a handful.

That was the experience for Melbourne mum-of-three Shelley Roberts and her husband Simon.

“Going back to work after having babies, I found the whole transition tricky… not having dinner ready, everyone getting home grumpy, no food,” the 42-year-old said of the family’s daily routine.

The weary couple harboured a frazzled family fantasy to hire their very own nonna – a stereotypical warm, dependable Italian grandmother available to help out for a few hours a day.

“We were having a wine one night after putting the kids in bed and said it would be good to have a nonna here. Lasagne in the oven, kids are bathed, everybody’s calm and we just walk in and have some quality time with them,” she said.

Now that dream is a reality.

Ms Roberts has started a nonna-for-hire service - enabling Melbourne parents to employ mature women who have raised their own families, to lighten the load for a few hours a day or full time.

Related Articles

Nonnas – usually aged in their 50s or 60s - are available to collect the children from school, help with homework, start dinner, or step in at short notice during an emergency.

“A lot of working families have children at primary school and may just need a nonna to pick up the kids from school, get them home, get them a snack, make sure that they have done their homework or readers.”

While “nonna” is Italian for grandmother, the carers available on mynonna.com.au come from a variety of backgrounds.

Nonna for hire Carol with six-year-old Harry. ()

New nonna Carol has four grown children and used to work in stockbroking.

But the 53-year-old loves to nurture others, from doing the school run, to a few household chores.

“I really miss interacting with little ones. And I want to take away a bit of stress from the parents who go to work,” she said.

The cost of a nonna under the program is $35 per hour and all are trained and insured.

And while they help out with light duties, the hired help is not expected to clean the entire family home or run unreasonable errands.

Carol says the service shows just how important older women still are – inside and outside the home.

“I think we are valuable having that experience and everything else. And it is something that we really enjoy. Giving to other families and removing some of that stress.”

Families so far are loving the service – so much that Ms Roberts is struggling to find enough nonnas to meet demand.

“It's just I need a few more for all the families who say we need this we love this.”